Muslim worshippers and Israeli police clashed outside a religious site in Jerusalem during prayers marking the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Palestinian medics said at least 14 people were wounded, one seriously, on Sunday, in skirmishes at the holy site, known as the Al-Aqsa mosque compound to Muslims, and the Temple Mount by Jewish worshippers.
Police said at least four officers were wounded, while witnesses stated at least two people were arrested.
Muslim worshippers clashed with Israeli police forces on Sunday outside a religious site in Jerusalem during prayers
Large numbers of Palestinians gathered at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound – also known as Temple Mount to Jews – after rumours circulated that Jewish visitors were allowed to enter the holy site
Tens of thousands of Muslims flocked to the site in Jerusalem’s Old City early on Sunday for holiday prayers.
The day also marks the Ninth of Av for Jews, a day of fasting and mourning for the destruction of the two Biblical temples which stood at the site in antiquity.
The site is the holiest for Jews and the third holiest for Muslims, after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia, and has long been a flashpoint at the epicenter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Large numbers of Palestinians gathered at the gates of the compound after rumours circulated that police would allow Jewish visitors to enter the site.
Tensions rise as the large crowd of Muslim worshippers are held back by Israeli police officers at the gates to the holy site
Tens of thousands of Muslims flocked to the site in Jerusalem’s Old City for Eid al-Adha, the holiest festival celebrated in Islam
Jewish worshippers gathered at the site on Sunday, which also marked an annual Jewish day of mourning, the Ninth of Av
The site close to the Temple Mount is the holiest for Jews and the third holiest for Muslims, after Mecca and Medina
A young Jewish worshipper stands by a pile of large stones that remain from the destroyed First and Second Temples
The protesters chanted ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is greatest) and threw stones at police, who then charged into the compound firing stun grenades and rubber-coated bullets.
Israeli police had initially barred entry to Jewish visitors, but reversed their decision after the clashes broke out and allowed them to enter.
Several dozen entered the site under close police escort and Muslim worshippers began throwing chairs and other objects at the group. The Jewish visitors left the compound shortly thereafter.
Israeli security forces walk past the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, also known as Temple Mount to Jewish worshippers
Israeli police throw stun grenades into the gathering crowd as they clashed with Palestinian worshippers on Sunday
Palestinian medics said at least 14 people were wounded, one seriously, in the skirmishes outside the Dome of the Rock
Clashes occurred as Palestinians wanted to stop Jewish worshippers entering the site, considered holy to Muslims and Jews
The reversal came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s religious nationalist allies called for the site to be opened to Jewish visitors.
Israelis are headed to unprecedented repeat elections next month after Netanyahu failed to form a government in April’s elections.
Jews are barred from praying at the compound under a longstanding arrangement between Israel and Muslim authorities. Jewish tradition also maintains that Jews should avoid entering the holy site.
The Dome of the Rock is seen in the background as Israeli police lead away one protester following the clash on Sunday
An Israeli soldier scuffles with a protesting Palestinian at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem
The holy site has long been considered a religious flashpoint at the epicentre of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
A Palestinian woman scuffles with an Israeli policeman during a clash following prayers marking the festival of Eid al-Adha
Palestinians view Jewish visits to the holy site near the al-Aqsa Mosque as provocation, amid fears Israel intends to partition it
Police officers tell a Palestinian to move away amid skirmishes that broke out on Sunday outside the Dome of the Rock
Israeli forces detain a Palestinian man following clashes between police and Muslim worshippers which erupted on Sunday
Palestinians evacuate a man from the site of a skirmish at the Dome of the Rock between worshippers and Israeli police
But in recent years Israeli religious nationalists have stepped up visits to the site to challenge the arrangement.
Jewish extremists have called for destroying the mosque and rebuilding the Biblical temple.
The Palestinians view such visits as provocations, and have long feared that Israel intends to take over the site or partition it.
However, the Israeli government has repeatedly said it has no intention of changing the status quo.
Smoke rises from stun grenades as Israeli police attempt to disperse the crowd of protesters gathered at the holy site
The compound is situated in east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in the 1967 war along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip, territories the Palestinians seek as part of a future state.
Israel views all of Jerusalem as its unified capital, while Palestinians seek east Jerusalem as their future capital.
Israeli-Palestinian tensions have spiked following President Donald Trump’s decision in 2017 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the US Embassy there.
The Israeli-Palestinian peace process has been moribund for at least a decade, and the Palestinians have cut ties with the Trump administration over what they see as its unfair bias toward Israel.
Palestinians joyfully celebrate the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha in front of the Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem
The crowd brought along colourful balloons and confetti to mark the holiest festival celebrated in the Muslim calendar
A Palestinian boy attends morning prayers with his father in east Gaza City during the first day of the festival of Eid al-Adha
Palestinian girls gather for prayers for Eid al-Adha, the holiest Muslim holiday celebrated each year, in east Gaza City
Eid al-Adha marks the yearly Muslim pilgrimage (Hajj) to visit Mecca in Saudi Arabia and is the holiest festival in the calendar
A Palestinian Muslim woman takes a selfie with her daughter after prayers for Eid al-Adha in East Gaza City
In a separate incident on Sunday, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian gunman after he opened fire on them from across the perimeter fence around the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military said an ‘armed terrorist’ approached the frontier early Sunday and opened fire toward troops on the other side, who responded by shooting at the attacker.
A tank also targeted a nearby military post operated by the Islamic militant group Hamas, the army added.
Jewish worshippers gather at the Western Wall on Tisha B’Av, a day of fasting and lament, which was marked on Sunday
Tisha B’Av for Jews marks the day on which the First and Second Temples were destroyed and is a day of prayer and fasting
The Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, is the last remnant of the Second Temple and hence is considered holy by Jews
Jews at the Western Wall in Jerusalem remain deep in prayer as they mark the fast day of Tisha B’Av on Sunday
Jewish worshippers fast on Tisha B’Av to mourn the destruction of the biblical First and Second Temples in Jerusalem
Jewish worshippers gather at the Western Wall, the last remnant of the Second Temple, which is considered a holy place
A Jewish worshipper in Jerusalem rests during Tisha B’Av, a day of fasting and lament, which was marked on Sunday
The man was identified by the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza as 26-year-old Marwan Nasser.
It was not clear if he was a member of an armed group, and no one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
On Saturday, Israeli troops killed four Palestinian militants who the army said had tried to carry out a cross-border attack.
Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, said the attack was an ‘individual act’ carried out by youths frustrated at the Israeli-Egyptian blockade on Gaza and was not planned by the group.